Filled pasta rolled in the shape of a coil

ABSTRACT

A pasta is formed from a tube of pasta that is cooked, filled with sauce, sealed on one end, left open on the other end and rolled into the shape of a coil. The pasta is suitable for being eaten while on the move.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a type of pasta in the shape of a longtube, which is cooked and rolled like a coil.

German Patent No. 42 19 570 shows how to develop pasta in form of atube, with holes arranged throughout its complete length and a totalsurface of at least the same size as the front face. Long bits ofvegetables can be inserted into a tube for preparing a dish using thistype of raw pasta.

German Patent No. 44 08 724 A1 suggests arranging spaghetti in form of acoil or a wreath instead of the common long shape and creatingconnections between some of the windings. During cooking, theseconnections come undone and the pasta regains its original long shape.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,259,051 shows filling the pasta tubes with ketchup,jelly or similar substances by coextrusion. Such filled pasta tubes canthen be cut into pieces and the ends sealed.

These known types of pasta are not suitable or even designed for to beeaten by someone on the move. However, it is an objective of the presentinvention to provide a type of pasta that is well suited to beingconsumed while on the move. The present invention achieves thisobjective by providing a tube of pasta that is sealed on one end andopen and filled with sauce on the other end.

The present invention can use a coil shape to ease the transport of thepasta. The present invention has the advantage that it can be eatenwhile being held in one hand. The pasta product of the present inventioncan be used, for example, as a snack-product with the aid of a stick.The open end of the pasta permits the consumer to easily identify thefilling.

The foregoing objectives, features and advantages of the invention, andothers, too, are explained below with the aid of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 pasta in coil shape from a perspective view;

FIG. 2 pasta in coil-shape seen from above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of pasta in the shape of a long tube 2,rolled like a coil. The numeral 1 indicates the inside end of the tubethat is sealed. The other, outer end 3 is left open. The tube 2 containsa sauce that can be filled in any of several ways that are known in theart. It is also possible to fill the sauce into the tube by pressingafter cooking.

The pasta functions as transportable container for the sauce. Thisoperation is to be contrasted with the more conventional situation inwhich the sauce is poured over the pasta. Nevertheless, the consumer caneasily recognize the type of sauce from the end of the pasta tube.

The outer diameter of the pasta in the coil-shape can be about 10 mm to20 mm. further length of the unrolled coil can be of about 80 mm to 100cm. The opening of the tube 3 can be laid out with 5 mm to 15 mm.

The pasta-coil can be packed in a flat paper bag so as to be held andconsumed comfortably. Handling can be further simplified using a woodenstick or equivalent structure that can be stuck in the middle of thecoil to function as a handle.

The pasta can be made of flour or semolina, particularly wheat semolina,like is used for spaghetti and Italian noodles. This pasta dough is hardand dry in its raw condition and is made eatable by cooking it in clear,possibly slightly salted water. Thanks to the sauce filling of thispasta coil, it is easily consumable as pasta with sauce without anyfurther aid--like i.e. cutlery--also while on the move, and thus isespecially suitable for use in the fast-food sector. The pasta can beeaten by biting off one mouthful at a time from the outside. Thistechnique allows for avoiding stains and smears. Such a filled noodle incoil-form can function as a small snack and weighs about 80 g to 100 g.The filling can use any of several known sauces. However, it is thoughtbest to use sauces that use ingredients that are grainy, and it is alsodesirable that the overall consistency of the sauce not have a tooliquid consistency. The exact choice of suitable sauces is within thelevel of one of ordinary skill in the art.

The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of thepresent invention have been set forth in the foregoing specification.The embodiment disclosed herein should be interpreted as illustratingthe present invention and not as restricting it. The foregoingdisclosure is not intended to limit the range of equivalent structureavailable to a person of ordinary skill in the art in any way, butrather to expand the range of equivalent structures in ways notpreviously envisioned. Numerous variations and changes can be made tothe foregoing ilustrative embodiments without departing from the scopeand spirit of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A coiled, filled pasta, comprising:a long tube of pastamaterial having first and second ends, the pasta material having beencooked and said tube having been rolled into a coil to form a coiledpasta tube; said first end of the coiled pasta tube being sealed; saidsecond end of the coiled pasta tube being open; and said coiled pastatube containing a sauce filling.
 2. A pasta as claimed in claim 1,wherein the outer diameter of the pasta in the coiled shape is about 10mm to 20 mm and the length of the unrolled coil is about 80 to 100 cm.3. A pasta as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a handle that isaffixed to the middle of the pasta coil.
 4. A pasta as claimed in claim1, further comprising a handle that is affixed to the middle of thepasta coil.
 5. A pasta as claimed in claim 1, further wherein the coiledpasta tube is round.